Spotlight on Dr Aaron Neill, Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am a catchment hydrologist and modeller whose research focusses on understanding the sources and pathways of agricultural pollutants (microbial and nutrients) to receiving waters. Central to this is the fusion of models with complimentary data streams (e.g., water quality parameters, stable water isotopes, ecohydrological monitoring) to improve confidence in model outputs. I am particularly interested in using agent-based approaches to trace the fate and transport of pollutants in the landscape to inform the spatial targeting of mitigation measures. 

I am presently collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders working in Kenya and Costa Rica to co-develop a modelling tool that will help optimise the use of nature-based solutions to impaired nutrient water quality in the Lake Victoria and Tempisque basins. I have also developed the Model for the Agent-based simulation of Faecal Indicator Organisms (MAFIO); so far, MAFIO has been coupled with an isotope-aided ecohydrological model (EcH2O-iso) to understand the spatio-temporal drivers of E. coli dynamics in a small agricultural catchment in NE Scotland. 

I am also interested in exploring new approaches for visualising model output and uncertainty to aid effective communication with stakeholders. One avenue I am exploring in this regard is the use of virtual reality technology. 

Prior to my current position within the Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, I was based at the University of Aberdeen for seven years. Here, I obtained my PhD on advancing models of microbial water quality (in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute), before progressing to my first postdoc position working on the “Isotopes in ecohydrological models to manage land use change impacts” (ISO-LAND) project.     

Keep up to date with Aaron's research:

Staff webpage

X (formerly Twitter)

LinkedIn